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Through many an age hath held inviolate. She is the Prophetess of the Most High, And will deliver Orleans!"                              Gaucour then, "Be it as thou hast said. For I must think, That surely to no vulgar tale these chiefs Would yield a light belief; and our poor stores Must speedily, ye know, be clean consumed. Spread then the joyful tidings through the troops That God hath to deliver the oppress'd, As in old time, raised up a Prophetess, And the belief itself will make them fight With irresistible courage."                              Thus the chief, And what he said seem'd good. The men of Orleans, Long by their foemen bay'd, such transport felt, As when the Mexicans, with eager eye Gazing to Huixachtla's distant top, On that last night, doubtful if ever morn Again shall cheer them, mark the mystic fire Flame on the breast of some brave prisoner, A dreadful altar. As they see the blaze Beaming on Iztapalapan's near towers, Or on Tezcuco's calmy lake flash'd far, Songs of thanksgiving and the shout of joy Wake the loud echo; the glad husband tears The mantling aloe from his consort's face, And children, now deliver'd from the dread Of everlasting darkness, look abroad, Hail the good omen, and expect the sun Uninjur'd still to run his flaming race.

While thus in Orleans hope had banished sleep, The Maiden's host perform'd their evening prayer, And in the forest took their rest secure. And now the morning came. At earliest dawn Lightly upstarting, and bedight in arms, The Bastard moved along, with provident eye Marshalling the troops. All high in hope they march; And now the sun shot from the southern sky His noontide radiance, when afar they hear The hum of men, and see the distant towers Of Orleans, and the bulwarks of the foe, And many a streamer wantoning in air. These as they saw and thought of all the ills Their brethren had endured, closely pent there For many a month, such ardor for the fight Burnt in each bosom, as young Ali felt Then when Mohammed of the assembled tribe Ask'd who would be his Vizir. Fierce in faith, Forth from the race of Hashem stept the youth, "Prophet of God! lo — I will be the man!" And well did Ali merit that high post, Victorious upon Beder's fertile vale, And on mount Ohud, and before the walls Of Chaibar, when down-cleaving to the chest His giant foe, he grasp'd the massy gate, Shook with strong arm and tore it from the fort, And lifted it in air, portentous shield! "Behold the towers of Orleans," cried Dunois, "Lo! this the vale where on the banks of Loire, Of yore, at close of day the rustic band Danced to the roundelay. In younger years As oft I glided down the silver stream, Frequent upon the lifted oar I paused, Listening the sound of far-off merriment. There wave the hostile banners! martial Maid, Give thou the signal! — let us fall upon These merciless invaders, who have sack'd Village and town, and made the hamlet haunts Silent, or hearing but the widow's groan. Give but the signal, Maiden!" Her dark eye Fix'd sadly on the foe, the holy Maid Answer'd him; "Ere the avenging sword be drawn, And slaughter be let loose, befits us send Some peaceful messenger, who shall make known The will of Heaven: so timely warn'd, our foes Haply may yet repent, and quit in peace Besieged Orleans, for I fain would spare The bloody price of victory." So she said; And as she spake, a soldier from the ranks Came forward. "I will be thy messenger, O Prophetess! and to the English camp Will bear thy bidding." "Go," the Virgin cried; "Say to the Lord of Salisbury, and the chiefs Of England, Suffolk, Fastolffe, Talbot, Scales, Invaders of the country, say, thus says In peace. Of every captured town the keys Restore to Charles; so bloodless you may seek Your native island; for the God of Hosts Thus hath decreed. To Charles the rightful heir, By long descent and by the willing choice Of duteous subjects, hath the Lord assign'd The kingdom. In His name the Virgin comes Arm'd with the sword, yet not of mercy void. Depart in peace: for ere the morrow dawns, Victorious upon yonder wall shall wave Her holy banner.'" To the English camp Fearless the herald went. At mid-day meal, With all the dissonance of boisterous mirth, The British chiefs caroused and quaff'd the bowl, When by the sentinel conducted there The Maiden's herald came. "Chiefs," he began, "Salisbury, and ye the representatives Of the English King, usurper of this realm, To ye the leaders of the English host I come, no welcome messenger. Thus saith In peace. Of every captured town the keys Restore to Charles; so bloodless you may seek Your native island; for the God of Hosts Thus hath decreed. To Charles the rightful heir, By long descent and by the willing choice Of duteous subjects, hath the Lord assign'd The kingdom. In His name the Virgin comes, Arm'd with the sword, yet not of mercy void. Depart in peace: for ere the morrow dawns, Victorious upon yonder wall shall wave Her holy banner.'" Wonder made a pause; To this a laugh succeeds. "What!" Fastolffe cried, "A virgin warrior hath your monarch sent
 * 'With your troops retire
 * 'With your troops retire